The church of Agios Nikolaos in Splantzia

The district of Splantzia is located to the East ot the Byzantine fortification wall and used to be the Turkish quarter of the town. It has many nice narrow alleys that you can wander through. Its main point of interest is Splantzia Square (officially name Square 1821) where you will now find pleasant coffee shops in the shade of a large plane tree.

The large church to the East of the square is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Built in 1320, it was part of the Dominican monastery of Saint Nicholas. You can still see a beautiful cross-vaulted arcade which belonged to the monastety on the North side of the church, just off Vourdouba Street.

The church underwent many tranformations: it started as a basilica with a central aisle and a bell tower on the North side. In Turkish times it was used as barracks but also as a mosque called the Hugar mosque (Mosque of the ruler). It was the largest mosque in town. A tall minaret with two balconies was built.

After the Turks left it became an Orthodox church dedicated to Agios Nikolaos. The wooden roof was replaced by a concrete roof in the 1950s. The minaret underwent a complete restoration a few years ago.